Rotary machine



March 3, 1936.

L. E. ZERBE ROTARY MACHINE Filed Feb. 2l, 1934 f/gl 5 sheets-sheet 1 L. E. ZERBE ROTARY MACHINE Mar'h 3, 1936.

s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2l, 1934 L. E'. ZERBE ROTARY MACHINE March 3, 1936.

Filed Feu-21, 1954 s sneets-sneet s Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,032,222 Ronny momma Application February 21, 1934, Serial No. '312,385

8 Claims. (Cl. 255-23) This invention relates to rotary machines, and Vmore particularly to rotary drilling machines of the type generally employed in the drilling of wells for the recovery of oil, gas and water.

. This invention is directed to a'n improvement in a rotary machine, as illustrated, fordexample, in Patent No. 1,876,126 to L. E. Zerbe et al., issued Sept. 6, 1932, for Rotary drilling machine.

. An object of this invention is to provide a rotary drilling machine, including a circulatory oil system for the circulation of lubricant to gears and bearing, so'that the gears and bearing are continuously supplied with lubricant while under operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unitary drive mechanism for driving the rotary table of a rotary machine of such construction as to enable the top of the rotary table to be positicned near the door of the derrick for the convcnience of the workers and operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary machine, including a right angle unitary drive mechanism for driving' the lrotary table drive gear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary machine of the type in which the rotary table is positioned and constructed so as to move vertically with reference to the base in which the drive means for the rotary table is of unitary right angle construction, so that it may be assembled at or re-moved from the base in driving position, as desired or required, Afor repair or replacement.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detail description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, mainly in vertical mid-section, of a rotary machine embodying nw invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section, showing' the unitary drive mechanism shifted radially from the rotary machine preparatory to lifting the unit from the machine;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, principally in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2. illustrating a portion of the oil circulatory system embodied in my invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, principally in vertical section and taken substantially on the line 3 5 of Figure 2 and positioned adJacent Figcylinders 2l. The cylinder caps 20 are clamped ure 4 to illustrate the manner and system of oil circulation embodied in my invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 6-6-6--6 of Figure 5, illustrating the pinion 5 shaft housing;

.Figure 7 is an enlarged view, taken substantially on the line '|-'I of Figure 5, illustrating the oil circulating pump with the cover removed;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view oi a modified form of construction of unitary shaft drive assembly.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I indicates the base of the rotary machine which is supported on I-beams 2. The base I has a vertically extending opening, in which is positioned the horizontal drive gear 3. The ldrive gear 3 is supported with relation to the base I by downthrust and up-thrust bearings 4 andl 5, respectively.

Mounted within the horizontal drive gear 3, s0 as to be vertically movable with relationto the drive gear 3v and so that the drive gear will drive the same, is the rotary table 6. The rotary table 6 has a depending sleeve l which is concentric within the gear 3 and is connected thereto by the intertting vertical ribs and grooves 3 and 9 formed between the gear and sleeve, respectively.

The rotary table 6 is supported to move or be moved vertically with reference to the base I by means of a horizontal spider I0 to which three depending vertical piston rods Il are secured. In order to support the table 6 relative to the spider I0, supporting and up-thrust bearings l2 and I3 are provided, permitting rotation of the table within the spider I0. The spider I0 is formed with an upstanding annular rim I4 which closely 40 fits an annular downwardly extending outer rim I5 of the table 6 to provide a labyrinth path to exclude rotary mud or other foreign matter from the bearings I2 and I3. The inner edge of the spider I0 is formed to provide an inner upstanding wall I6 to form with the rim I4 a lubricant chamber, in which the bearing I2 is positioned.

' The upthrust bearing I3 is held in position by means of a supporting ring l1, which is Athreaded to the sleeve 1 and held from rotation by a dowel I3. The ring I1 is formed with an outer annular wall I9 to retain lubricant for the bearing I3.

The piston rods II extend through cylinder caps 20. The cylinder caps 20 are secured to the at their lower ends by means of caps 24. 'Ihe capsuareconnectedbytheringhavinga fluid e 25.

nication with the interior of the cylinders 2l through ports 21 and is connected at 2l with a source of hydraulic pressure. The piston rods II aresecuredtopistonsnwithinthecylinders 2|.

Fluidunderpressuremayalsobeadmittedor released to or from the opposite side of the pistons 25 through ports 35 formed in the caps 2l in commimication with the recess 3i formed in the said caps 2li and connected through 'horisontal passages 32 with the annular :w 1 formed in the base I. 'I'he passage 33 receives or discharges fluid under pressure through a port 34 to any suitable source of fluid under pressure. The table 5 may be either raised or lowered under fluid pressure relative to the base I. When thetablelisrestedontheupperendsofthe cylindercaps 2l,asillustratedinFigure 1,itis inpositiontoandmaybeusedasanordinary rotary drilling machine.

The rotary table 5 is rotated with reference to the base I by means acting in conjunction with the gear ring 3, which means includes a right angle unitary drive mechanism, preferably constructed as will hereinafter be described so as to enable the drive connection thereof to the source of power, whether rotary drawworks or other drive, to be raised up to the upper level of the rotary table 5, or so that the entire rotary .machine may be positioned down in the drilling rig with the top of the table 5 a minimum distance above the derrick floor level when used as a standard rotary machine.

The gear ring 3 is supported by the supporting bearing 4 positioned within a-lubricant chamber 35 formed by the inner annular wall 35 of the base i to retain lubricant around the bearings when the rotary machine is stopped. 'Ihe up-thrust bearings 5 are positioned between the ring 3 and an up-thrust bearing ring 31, which is removably secured to the upper end of the base I. Shims 38 are interposed between the thrust ring 31 and base I to provide for the adjustment of the bearing clearance of the bearings 5 and 4. The thrust ring 31 is formed with spaced annular rims 39, which intert complementary annular rims of a cover plate 4I to provide a labyrinth path to restrict the entrance of rotary mud or other foreign matter into the bearings 5 and 4. The plate 4I is removably bolted to the gear ring 3.

The right angle unitary drive mechanism is preferably of the following construction:

The base I is formed with an extension 42 upon which the right angle unitary drive means is supported. This mechanism, as illustrated in the form of structure shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, includes a gear 43 in mesh with the gear 3. The gear 43 is secured to the vertical shaft 44. The shaft 44 carries at its upper end the beveled gear 45 which meshes with the beveled pinion 45`\secured to the horizontal pinion shaft 41. Secured to the pinion shaft 41 is the sprocket wheel 48 which is driven from any suitable source of power such as, for example, a drawworks (not shown) or any other desired form'of rotary drilling machine drive mechanism.

The vertical drive shaft 44 is rotatably sup- Thepassagellisincommu-A ported by bearings u man." 'rne lower bearing4lissupportedwithinacapmember5lwhich l pinion snm n. The Il and n are mounted within the sleeve 5I and sleeve cap 4I respectively within the housing 55. In order to adjust the axial position of the bevel pinion 4l andizoadjusttheaxialpositionofthebearlngs Bland 55 relative to the shaft 41, shims 52 and 53 are interposed between theiianges of the sleeve 5l and housing 55-and sleeve cap 5I and sleeve III, respectively.

The sleeve 5l, sleeve cap 5I, shaft 41, bearings Y 5l and 59. and pinion 45. are insertable as a unit through the opening formed in the housing 55. This opening is normally closed by the unit construction.

Means are provided for locking the pinion shaft 41 from rotation, and this means includes a lock ring |52 mounted on the shaft 41. Pawls 53 (one of which is illustrated only in Figure 6) are provided within the housing 55 to engage the lock ring |52. The locking means provided by the lock ring |52 and pawls 53 are, or may be, of the general construction as illustrated in the copending application of David S. Faulkner, et al., Serial No. 504,758, for Rotary machine. illed December 26. 1930.

In order to remove the unitary right angled drive mechanism, including the housing 55 with the shafts 44 and 41 in position and carrying their assembled parts, it is necessary ilrst to remove the plate 54 to gain access to the oil pump 55 and to remove the pump through the opening 55. 'Ihe cap member 55 is then removed, together with the oil circulation tube 51. 'I'he housing 55, together with the shafts 44 and 41 and assembled parts, are then shifted as a unit radially from the gear 3 so that the unit can be raised vertically from the base extension 42. 'I'he opening 5I formed in the base extension 42 is proportioned so as to permit of suiilcient shifting of the gear 43 to clearV the opening in the top of the base extension 42 when the unit is lifted vertically from the rotary machine. f

In order to provide for continuous circulation of oil to the bearing and gears within the base I and housing 55, I prefer to mount the oil pump 55 in a lubricant reservoir 58 formed in the base I. 'I'he lubricant pump 55 may be of any suitable type and is here illustrated as a gear pump having meshing gears 59 and 1I).-

'I'he gear 55 is mounted on a shaft 1I which extends through the pump housing and is driven The tube 61 secured to the cap member 55 in 75 communication with the passage 16-conducts the oil discharge from the pump to a point above the gear 45. 'I'he tube B1 extends axially of the shaft 44 andl above the gear 45 is provided with n plurality of radial openings 18 through which openings the lubricant is discharged to fill the portion of the housing 55 above the gear 45 with lubricant to approximately the oil level' indicated by the dotted lines 19. 'I'he meshing beveled gears 45 and 45 are thus continually operating ir. a bath of lubricant. The lubricant likewise ows through the end of the sleeve 68 to continuously supply lubricant to the bearings 58 and 59.

Lubricant likewise flows from its position above the gear 45 under the gear 45 downward to fill the lubricant retainer 89 mounted on the shaft.

44 to provide an oil bath for the bearing 49. The lubricant retainer 80 insures lubricant for the bearing 49 when the machine is stopped and then restarted. Lubricant overowing from the chamber above the gear 45 and returning from any of these sources to within the housing 55 below the retainer 88 passes through the lubricant port 8l into the reservoir 68.

Lubricant from above the gear 45 also ows through the conduit 82 into the passage 83 formed in the ring 31, and flows through the passage 83 to the upthrust bearing 5. Lubricant passes from the upthrust bearing 5 down to the supporting bearing 4 and to the gear 3. Lubricant as carried by the gear 3, lubricates the gear 43 and likewise the gear 12 on the pump shaft.v Lubricant leaving the lower supporting bearing 4 passes through the port 84 and returns to the reservoir 68 through the port 8|.

A vent 85 communicating through a passage 88 with the chamber above the reservoir 68 prevents the accumulation of air under pressure within the housing 55 which would otherwise occur if no vent were provided to take care of the air displaced by the supply of oil circulated by the pump 65.

'I'he oil reservoir 38 in the base is supplied with lubricant through an opening having the plug 81, and lubricant is drained through the opening having the plug 88.

The modification of my invention shown by Figure 9 provides for a self-contained bearing for the vertical drive shaft so that axial adjustment for the bevel pinion can be made and maintained with the housing removed from the machine.

In this modification of my invention, similar parts are indicated with the same numerals with the addition of an exponent a" thereto.- In this modification of my invention, the housing 55a encloses and supports the bevel gears 45a and 46a. The drive shaft 44a is rotatably supported by the bearings 48a and 49a.l The upper bearing 49a is mounted within the sleeve 53a. The bearing 49a is a combined radial and thrust type bearing which is capable of taking axial thrust loads in either direction. The bearing 49a is held against axial movement by a ring 90 threaded in the sleeve 53a. Shlms 51a between the faces of the sleeve 53a and vhousing 55a provide for axial adjustment of the sleeve 53a and the gear 45a. An oil container 80a is carried by the shaft 44a and forms a reservoir for retaining lubricant around the upper bearing 49a.

'I'he lower bearing 43a of the radial type is retained in the cap 50a secured to the lower face of the extension 42a of the base la by means of bolts 52a. 'Ihe cap- 50a registers with the opening in the base extension 42a to insure accurate bearing alignment for the bearings 48a and 49a.

The sleeve 53a is formed with a downwardly depending portion 9| to conduct lubricant overflowing the retainer a downward onto the inwardly inclined web 92 of the gear 43a. 'I'he lubricant thus collected drains through an openlng 93 in the web into an enclosure 94 formed around the lower bearing 48a to retain a supply -of lubricant for the bearing 48a when the operation of the machine is discontinued.

Having fully described my invention and modifications that the same may take, it is to be understood that said description is illustrative only and my invention is not limited to the details herein set forth, but is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. Ina rotary machine, havinga base and a gear ring rotatably supported by the base, the combination of a vertically extending pinion shaft having an axially extending bore formed therein, a drive pinion non-rotatably secured to said pinion shaft to mesh with said gear ring, bearing means to rotatably support said shaft on said base, a driven gear non-rotatably secured to the upper end of said shaft, a drive gear meshing with the driven gear, conduit means positioned within the shaft bore being supported adjacent the lower end of said shaft on said base, means to force lubricant upwardly through said conduit means to lubricate said drive and driven gears, and means to enclose said last named gears.

2. In a rotary machine having a base and a gear ring rotatably supported by the base, the combination of a vertically extending pinion shaft having an axially extending bore formed therein, a drive pinion non-rotatably secured to vsaid pinion shaft to mesh with said gear ring,`

a cap member removably secured to the base, bearing means within said cap member to rotatably support the lower end of said shaft, a cover member removably secured to the base, bearing means within said cover member to rotatably support the upper end of said shaft, a bevel gear nonrotatably secured to the upper end of said shaft within said cover member, a bevel pinion adapted to drive said bevel gear, conduit means positioned withinv the shaft bore and secured to said cap member, and means to force lubricant upwardly through said conduit means to lubricate said bevel pinion and gear.

3. In a rotary machine having a base and a gear ring rotatably supported by the base, the combination of a vertically extending pinion shaft having an axially extending bore formed therein, a drive pinion non-rotatably secured to said pinion shaft to mesh with said gear ring, a cap member removably secured to the base, bearing means within said cap member to rotatably support the lower end of said shaft, a cover member removably secured to the base, bearing means within said cover member to rotatably support the upper end of said shaft, a bevel gear non-rotatably secured to the upper end of said shaft within said cover member, a bevel pinion adapted to drive said bevel gear, conduit means positioned within the shaft bore and secured to said cap member, means to force lubricant upwardly through said conduit means to lubricate said bevel pinion and gear, and means carried by said shaft below the bevel gear to form a lubricant retainer around the latter bearing means and retain a portion of the lubricant draining from the gear.

4. In a rotary machine having a base and a ses.: 'fing rotatably supported by the eoxnbination of a vertically extend ng pinion shaft a drive pinion non-rotatably secured to said pinion shaft to mesh with said gear ring, a cap member removably secured to the base, radial bearing means within said cap member to rotatably support the lower end of said shaft, a cover member removably secured to the base,V a bearing housing sleeve detachably secured to said cover member, bearing means within said sleeve to rotatably support said shalt against radial and up and down thrust loads. a bevel gear non-rotatably secured to the shaft above said drive pinion and within said -cover member, and a'bevel pinion adapted to drive said bevel gear.

5.Inarotarymachinehavngabaseanda gear ring rotatably supported by the base, the

combination of a vertically extending pinion.

shaft, a drive pinion non-rotatably secured to said pinion shaft to mesh with said gear ring. a cap member removably secured to the base, bearing means within said cap member to rotatably support the lower end of said shaft, a cover member removably secured to the base, a bearing hou-S- ing sleeve removably secured to said cover memv ber, bearing means within said sleeve to rotatably support said shaft, a bevel gear non-rotatably secured to the shaft above said drive pinion and within said cover member, and a bevel' pinion adapted to drive said bevel gear.

6. In a rotary machine, the ycombination of a base having a vertically extending opening therein and deiining an annular rim at the upper end thereof, a gear ring rotatably supported within said base, an outwardly extending gear case secured to said base, a pinion shaft housing releasably secured to the upper face of said gear case to dene anenclosure, an opening in the bottorn wall of said case, a cap member cletachably secured to the case and closing said opening, a vertically extending pinion shaft, a drive pinion nonrota-tably secured to said shaft, said pinion in driving position extending in part through an opening in the wall of said base below the rim thereof to mesh with said gear ring, bearing means supported by said cap member to rotat ably support the lower end of said shaft, bearing means supported by said housing to rotatably supportthe upperendofsaidshatt,abevelgear within said housing being non-rotativeiy secured to said shaft above said drive pinion, a bevel plulon rotatably supported within said housing ind theopeninginthetopofsaidgearcaseuponremovingthecapmember andshifting inglaterallyrelativetosaldgearring vwheretliepinionwillelan'therimod '1. In arotary machine.having a searrinsrotatahlysimportedby'tbe base.

upperendofsaidshaft,adrivegearmeshing with the driven gear. conduit means positioned within theshaftbore.meanstosupportsaidcon duit means, means to force lubricant upwardly through said conduit means to lubricate said drive anddrlvengearaandmeanstoenclosesaidlast named gears.

8.Inarotarymachinehavingabaseanda gear ring rotatably supported by the base, the combination of a vertically extending pinion shaft, a drive pinion non-rotatably secured to the pinion shaft to mesh with the gear ring, a cover` member detachably secured to the base, a bearing housing sleeve detachably secured tothe cover member, a cap member detachably secured to the base, bearing means for the shaft within the cap member, bearing means for the shaft within the bearing housing sleeve, one of said bearing means being adapted to support the shaft against upand-down thrust loads, a driven gear non-rotatably secured to the shaft above said drive pinion and within the cover member, and means to drive the driven gear.

LEWIS E. ZERBE. 

